Sequels are great for several reasons. Aside from the fact that we get another look at characters we fell in love with, sequels also keep the story arc going (sometimes good, sometimes bad), and sequels usually make a shit-ton of money… and it’s always nice to see a horror film at number one at the box office.
Sometimes sequels put a bad taste in our mouths (Blair Witch 2), but other times they deliver big time (Evil Dead 2). Some are still promising us sequels (Wolf Creek) while a few gave us sequels that barely seemed to be part of the original film (Queen of the Damned). Regardless, we’ve got a list of movies that never made sequels, and they are films that we would have loved to have gotten a little more from.
Shaun of the Dead
This was another beloved horror-comedy that looked destined for a follow-up; however, one never came. The film vaulted Simon Pegg to hero status in the zombie sub-genre of horror as fans simply devoured this British import. Shaun of the Dead was the perfect undead parody, and fans clamored to see more of Shaun, Ed and Liz. But alas, we would see no more of the gang after the hilarious final perfect scene of the film. Although fans have come up with great titles like Shaun of the Dead 2: From Dusk ‘Til Shaun and Shaun of the Dead 2: Night of the Living Ed, it’s been confirmed that there will be no part two. Bollocks.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Leslie Vernon was never meant to be a one-shot character. A mockumentary that can safely be described as horror’s version of “The Office,” fans fell in love with the quirky lead character played by Nathan Baesel, and it was always assumed a second film would follow. In fact, another script was written, and Before the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon was well on its way to being a reality. But financial issues plagued the sequel which never materialized… yet (even though the Before the Mask Facebook page has over 15,000 likes).
The Strangers
This movie had such promise. The trailer made it look like a nightmarish home invasion film that would turn the horror world on its ear. Unfortunately, in the opinion of most, it did not live up to its outstanding potential. However, there was always hope that a sequel would be able to capture the best parts of the original and build on them, bringing us the film we hoped the original would be. Here we seem to have another case of a sequel dying on the vine as The Strangers 2 remains in limbo. The last rumors had Liv Tyler and all the masked killers returning for a second round, but that was quite awhile ago, and as time moves on, fans are less and less interested in a sequel to The Strangers. So it appears this film is also going to fall into the “one and done” category.
My Bloody Valentine
We’re going way back to the golden age of the slashers with this one. My Bloody Valentine was released in 1981 and was well known for being a big target of the MPAA, who cut nine minutes from the original film, including footage from every death scene. The movie concludes with proof that the killer, Harry Warden, has disappeared into the tunnels of the mine and will live to strike again another day. In fact, Warden did indeed return; however, that was in the 2009 3D remake of My Bloody Valentine, and we never did get any closure on that original film.
Funhouse
Okay, so here is a title out of the blue. Tobe Hooper’s Funhouse continues to be one of the most underrated ’80s horror films. And sandwiched by franchise launchers like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Funhouse seemed to be the perfect candidate to continue on as a series. Sure, the two-faced kid bit the big one in the original film, but think of the possibilities: another new freakshow killer in each film. It would have been great… the bearded lady could be the killer in part two, the sword swallower in part three and so forth. Alas, The Funhouse came and went, and a sequel was never to be, which is unfortunate because the original was such a hugely entertaining film.
Near Dark
It’s hard to believe a film with as many fans as Near Dark never produced a sequel, but that is the case. However, a quick historic investigation unveils the reason studios never pursued a part two in this vampire/western horror flick: Near Dark was made on a budget of $5 million while the movie’s total box office take was under $3.4 million. Mystery solved. The fact was not lost, however, that Near Dark eventually generated a cult following, not to mention the fact that it was directed by the magnificent Kathryn Bigelow and talks of a remake were being bandied about. That was all squashed, though, by the Cullen family and the Twilight films as the folks behind the Near Dark remake felt it would be too similar to Twilight, and the plans were scrapped. Thanks a lot, Edward.